Contemporary Indian Graphic Narratives:

Tracing Indian Subjectivity, Consciousness and Historical Experience

Abstract

In India Graphic Narratives have been a relatively less researched form within the magnum corpus of what is considered Literature in the contemporary age. Indian Literature itself eschews any straitjacketed forms or styles due to its historical longevity. Nonetheless, many of its most influential works of Graphic Fiction have proliferated at the turn of the century, or are simply post-millennial. This reflects a trend in the publishing industry and the spaces available for Indian Fiction. It
is important because it can provide a sliver of refection on the upcoming Indian social milieu. Graphic Narratives provide a different form of language for the author and artist to express themselves. This language is purely visual and is aided with text, usually the form of which, or its lettering also provides an important insight as to what is being conveyed through the narrative. Visual aesthetics within graphic fiction cannot simply be reduced to descriptions within written language, and that is what makes it a complex mode of expressing and understanding the world around us. This paper is an attempt to understand Indian Graphic Narratives and their importance in the contemporary literary and intellectual environment. The texts discussed are The Hotel at The End of The World by Parismita Singh, Delhi Calm by Vishwajyoti Ghosh and Bhimayana: Experiences of Untouchability by S.Anand.